Comprehensive Youth Services

"A Healing Place for Children and Families"
 

Student Assistance Program - SAP

The Student Assistance Program (SAP), is a  school-based counseling program that targets students (Preschool-12) at numerous Fresno Unified School District campuses, as well as rural Fresno County schools in Sanger Unified and Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified.  The goal of the program is to help students overcome emotional obstacles that may hinder their ability to succeed in school through individual and group counseling with qualified CYS counselors.  Over the past three years, the Student Assistance Program has served more than 20,000 students in grades Preschool-12.  The program, which began in 1990, has been honored with two national awards from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Student Assistance Program and Partners.

Trained SAP counselors provide individual, family and group counseling, crisis intervention, case management, referral and consultation services.  An individualized treatment plan is developed for each student/family based on a thorough assessment of their needs.  The SAP also provides workshops, in-services to school personnel and parents, and presentations on a variety of topics including parent education, anger management, and other issues of importance.  Counselors address a variety of topics with the students including depression, alcohol, drug and tobacco abuse, suicide, self-mutilation, anger management, health concerns, school-related problems, child abuse, teen pregnancy, gang involvement, eating disorders, anxiety, grief and loss issues, among others.

Who is eligible for this program?
At schools that contract for SAP services, any student or family is eligible for services.  FUSD also contracts with CYS to provide SAP services for all FUSD students.  These services are provided at Comprehensive Youth Services' main office on Shields Avenue in Fresno.

What is the cost of the service?
The service is free for students and their families.

How do I apply for service?
The schools that have an Student Assistance Program (SAP) counselor on campus have referral forms available to teachers, school administrators, parents and students. Just fill out the referral form and give it to the SAP counselor or place it in the referral box.  For services at CYS, please contact the main office at 229-3561.

What if there isn’t an SAP counselor on campus?
For schools that do not have an SAP counselor on campus, we accept referrals for counseling at the agency's main offices on Shields Avenue in Fresno.

What are some of the problems or concerns that the SAP counselors address?

• Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Abuse
• School Related Problems
• Poor Attendance
• Discipline Problems
• Anger Management
• Child Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Depression
• Teen Pregnancy
• Runaway
• Gang Involvement
• Eating Disorders
• Anxiety
• Suicide
• Grief and loss
• Criminal Involvement
• Family Conflict
• Cultural & Ethnic Issues

Can minors seek counseling for themselves?
Written consent of parents or legal guardians is required for the evaluation and counseling of children. In some circumstances, youth 12 years of age and older have the right to seek counseling without parent or guardian consent. In cases when parents are separated or divorced and one parent requests counseling for their child, the counselor may require consent from both parents before the child receives counseling.

Our Program Managers Are:

• Becky Kramer, LMFT
  Clinical Director
• Judy Nielson, LCSW
  Elementary Program Manager
• Joan Wiley, LCSW
  Program Manager

©2004 Comprehensive Youth Services of Fresno, Inc. All rights reserved.